All well and good advice. What do you do if you know what the perfect career for you is but after two degrees years of work your "perfect" career; that experts in the field said would be a good fit for you still is not working. What I mean to say it is still not even coming close to paying your bills; your getting older you don't want to give up so your stuck in a job not your "perfect" career and can't figure out how to make a change because you don't have any money for school.
Taraof MA7:32PM October 16, 2011
Great article and so true. I picked a career out of a catalogue because I was only focused on getting into university for that skill set (film and video). When I got into the working world, I realized that I truly hated the industry but because of my schooling it was the only area I was qualified for.
I'm desperately trying to find something new to do and have been volunteering etc., but it has set me back ten years.
If I had interned for a summer in my field I definitely would not have studied it for four years in school.
Yep, I suck, but you can learn from my error!
Chris B3:27PM December 08, 2010
VISE
-Values
--Interests
--Skills
--Environment
offi politics never end, learn the reality, just to our best, work hard and smart, VISE 4 refer,
Best of luck 2 all of us, gambateh, peace to all...
Leeof MA12:05PM December 08, 2010
Regarding this: Are you more likely to gain employment when you change careers if you work while in school with ok grades, than if you only go to school with great grades??
I think it really depends on the work you do while in school. Is it applicable to your longer term job objective? Does it teach you something? Does it allow you to achieve specific goals?
For example, a friend of mine worked as a technician in a silicon wafer fabrication facility while pursuing an engineering degree. Very applicable work; that helped him a lot. Flipping burgers or serving coffee would not have helped much.
KB of CA8:21PM December 06, 2010
I don't have a comment but rather a question. Are you more likely to gain employment when you change careers if you work while in school with ok grades, than if you only go to school with great grades??
I need to know???
Michele Dennisof GA5:16PM December 06, 2010
Andrew,
I love the VISE strategy. It's so simple, yet so effective. It's easy to get sucked into the "you'd be great at this" talk from family and friends. But, the real question is: Are you passionate about your job? If you don't enjoy it, you probably won't stay long. Even if a person takes a job for the perks, to impress others, or to simply shut Mom & Dad up, not taking the time to weigh your decision can be costly. Internships are a great way to experience the culture of the company and job. Job shadowing is also a good way to do so without being formally hired for the internship. Just ask someone in the field of interest if you can observe them for a half-day to a full-day. Whatever gets you the "day in the life of" perspective.
I author a blog called Campus to Career that addresses many of these issues and questions from young job seekers to those that are more experienced. I'd love to know what you think. Here's the link: www.campus-to-career.com.
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Tara of MA 7:32PM October 16, 2011
Chris B 3:27PM December 08, 2010
Lee of MA 12:05PM December 08, 2010
KB of CA 8:21PM December 06, 2010
Michele Dennis of GA 5:16PM December 06, 2010
Kirk Baumann of MO 11:42AM November 30, 2010